CHAPTER 93: BANQUET [4]

Marcus followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow, but when he spotted the insignia embroidered on Alaric’s chest, a knowing smirk tugged at his lips.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Lord Glimor," he said, straightening to his full height.

Alaric paused and turned toward him, offering an exaggerated bow.

"The pleasure is all mine, Lord Vale."

Marcus’s grin widened, clearly preparing some cutting remark, but Alaric had already shifted his attention elsewhere.

"Wow," Alaric drawled, his crimson eyes locking onto Livia’s with lazy confidence, "and here I thought how the moon was out early, but it seems it’s just you stealing the light."

The compliment was delivered with just enough sincerity to make Livia’s cheeks flush pink.

A faint flush crept along her cheeks, and she looked away almost instantly, fingers brushing the edge of her gown as though she suddenly didn’t know where to place them.

"I might need to stay near you the whole evening," he said in a softer tone, the corner of his mouth lifting, "or else I might just lose my way in this crowd."

Her face became beet red like a tomato, as if steam were visibly rising from her ears.

"I..." She bit her lip, unable to say anything.

As Alaric moved a step closer, the wine’s effects became apparent as he swayed slightly, his balance shifting unexpectedly.

"Careful," Livia blurted before she could think, her hand shooting out to steady him.

He gave her a smile that only deepened the flush still warming her cheeks.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Marcus stiffening ever so slightly.

Alaric gripped Livia’s arm for support as he swayed lightly, his weight shifting against her steadying hold.

Hick!

"I think I drank too much," he muttered, his words slurred but not without a sly edge, cheeks flushed and crimson eyes carried a half-dazed glimmered with unmistakable amusement.

Livia stiffened at the sudden contact, her composure cracking for just an instant as heat deepened at her cheeks.

The auburn-haired girl froze mid-laugh, lips parting in silent surprise while Cordelia pressed her fingers against her lips to hide the faint gasp threatening to slip out and the petite brunette blinked in surprise at the unexpected scene unfolding before them.

Their expressions ranged from shock to barely concealed fascination, this was certainly more entertaining than the stilted conversations they’d been enduring.

The cluster of young nobles nearby, however, looked far less pleased with this development. Their expressions soured, their carefully cultivated smiles slipping into thin lines of disapproval.

"Do you know what you’re doing, Lord Glimor?" one of them spat, his voice low and sharp with barely contained irritation.

"What?" Alaric blinked at him with exaggerated innocence.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked with a lazy smile, his head tilting as though the question were sincere.

Marcus stepped forward, the self-appointed spokesman of their little pack, his smirk replaced into a sneer.

"Leaning on a lady in such a manner, especially in public, is hardly appropriate behavior, Lord Glimor." Marcus said coldly, his gaze flicking pointedly to where Alaric’s hand rested against Livia. "It reeks of... vulgarity."

Alaric turned his slightly unfocused gaze to Livia, blinking with exaggerated concern. "Am I being terribly rude, Lady Livia?" He asked, tilting his head toward her with an almost childlike curiosity.

"Please tell me if I’m bothering you..."

His voice carried just enough vulnerability to make her heart skip, eyes darted between him and the four nobles glaring daggers at his back.

"N-No... it’s fine," she stammered, quickly shaking her head, while her cheeks deepened to a lovely shade of rose. "You’re not—"

"See?" Alaric interrupted with a lazy smile, turning back toward the nobles. "The lady herself doesn’t mind. Isn’t that what matters?"

Marcus’s jaw tightened at being so thoroughly dismissed. "This is hardly the conduct expected of—"

"Expected by whom?" Alaric interrupted cheerfully.

Cordelia’s eyes sparkled with barely suppressed laughter.

"Oh my, how bold."

The auburn-haired girl pressed her fingers to her lips to hide a giggle.

The petite brunette girl nodded eagerly.

The young men didn’t share their humor. One stepped forward, jaw tight.

"Lord Glimor, whether she voices it or not, leaning on a lady in such a fashion is uncouth."

Alaric blinked, crimson eyes slightly unfocused but gleaming with mirth.

"Uncouth? Hm. Big word," he said, letting the syllables roll off his tongue. "But I thought nobles were supposed to care about a lady’s comfort, not their own egos."

The second noble scoffed. "You’re making a spectacle of yourself."

"A spectacle?" Alaric straightened just enough to glance at Livia again. His lips curved, soft and teasing.

The trio of girls exchanged looks.

The third noble, face red with frustration, muttered, "This is disgraceful."

"Disgraceful?" Alaric echoed, feigning surprise as he finally let go of Livia’s wrist, only to casually brush his fingers along her sleeve instead, sending another flush racing across her cheeks. "I don’t know. She looks rather radiant with that blush. Doesn’t she, ladies?"

Cordelia grinned, tilting her head. "Mm, I can’t disagree."

The brunette muffled another laugh, murmuring, "Poor Livia... he’s not giving you any escape."

The young men stiffened at the girls’ reactions, clearly losing ground. The fourth one, the boldest of them, crossed his arms and sneered.

"You’re drunk and overstepping, Glimor. Perhaps you should excuse yourself before this turns uglier."

Alaric gave a faint chuckle.

"Drunk, perhaps. But ugly?" His eyes swept the group with lazy contempt. "That would require someone in this circle to be worth taking seriously."

He leaned back slightly, his eyes half-lidded with that mischievous drunken veil, yet his words still sharp enough to sting.

The girls gasped and then laughed outright, bubbling tones that cut sharper than any insult.

Livia bit her lip, torn between mortification and the giddy warmth fluttering in her chest.

Meanwhile, the young noble men’s expressions soured further, their pride unraveling as Alaric’s casual mockery left them no easy way to retort.

"You know," Alaric continued with a lazy grin, his words slightly slurred but his intent razor-sharp, "it’s fascinating how some people mistake loudness for confidence, wealth for worth..."

His crimson eyes swept over the noblemen with deliberate assessment. "Tell me, Lord Marcus, do you practice that smirk in mirrors, or does it come naturally with inherited titles?"

Marcus’s face flushed crimson. "How dare you—"

"Oh, I dare quite easily when I’ve had enough wine," Alaric replied cheerfully, swaying again for effect. "Amazing how liquid courage reveals truths, wouldn’t you agree?"

Before any of the men could snap back, Livia quickly rose her soft but firm voice.

"I’m sorry, my lords. Lord Glimor’s... not quite himself today. Please excuse us."

She tugged at Alaric’s arm with both hands, almost pleading in her eyes.

Alaric only chuckled under his breath, as though amused she was "rescuing" him.

He let himself be pulled away, feigning another unsteady sway.

[+200 DP]

The trio of girls followed eagerly, the sparkle of entertainment with a mixture of concern still in their eyes.

They arranged themselves like fluttering birds, leaning close as if to hear every word.

Livia settled him onto an empty seat at a vacant table tucked into the side of the hall, while Cordelia, Catherine—the auburn-haired girl, and Eleanor—the brunette girl, arranged themselves nearby like a protective circle.

"Livy~," Cordelia sang with teasing sweetness, "since when are you so close with Lord Glimor? You practically dragged him away as if you were his dear caretaker."

Then Catherine leaned in, smirking. "Don’t tell us you’ve been hiding a secret romance. How scandalous..."

Livia’s face went crimson in an instant, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

"N-No! It’s not like that," she stammered, shaking her head quickly. "We... we only met at one of the formal gatherings. That’s all. We’re just... friends."

"Ohhh, just friends," Eleanor repeated, dragging the words with knowing mirth.

"Yet here you are, red as wine."

As the girls laughed among themselves, their attention drifted slyly toward Alaric.

"And what about you, sir?" Cordelia asked with a challenging smile. "How close are you with our dear Livy?"

Alaric tilted his head lazily, lips curving into a wolfish grin. "Close enough to know she looks prettier when she blushes... though," his gaze shifted languidly between the three of them, "I wonder if the same is true for you as well."

The girls gasped, exchanging flustered glances.

Catherine tried to mask her reaction with a scoff, though her fingers toyed nervously with the edge of her sleeve. Eleanor bit her lip, half-smiling, half-flustered, while Cordelia only leaned closer, clearly intrigued by his boldness.

Meanwhile, poor Livia buried her face in her hands, groaning softly as if she had made a mistake by dragging him here at all.

"Oh, my. Are you saying you’re now bored of our dear Livy and try out on us?"

Cordelia raised a brow in amusement.

"Ladies, surely you’re not jealous of my friendship with the lovely Lady Livia?" he replied.

"Though I must say, each of you brings such unique charm to this gathering... Lady Cordelia’s infectious laughter, Lady Catherine’s sharp wit, Lady Eleanor’s delightful spirit..."

The compliments, delivered with wine-loosened sincerity, had the immediate effect of turning the teasing back on the other girls, who found themselves giggling.

"Well, that was certainly eventful," Cordelia said between giggles, changing the topic, her earlier discomfort completely forgotten.

"Eventful is one word for it," Catherine, added with a grin. "Though I must say, watching Marcus get taken down a peg was rather satisfying."

---

{A/N: I deeply apologize for the inconveniences I had caused you guys.}

I’ll try making up for it.

Though I couldn’t do Mass release yet.

I’ll try dropping the price of privilege tier of next month.